Association of Thickness and Prolapse of Mitral Valve and Keratoconus
Narrative Responses:
Purpose
Myxomatous degeneration and prolapse of mitral valve (MVP) are the components of a generalized disorder of collagen probably due to degenerative process including various matrix metalloproteinases. We evaluated the association of MVP and thickness of mitral valve (MVT) with topographic features of keratoconus which shares a degenerative process of collagen.
Methods
Echocardiography was consecutively performed following a corneal topographic and slit-lamp examination in patients with diagnosis of keratoconus. Presence of MVP and thickness of mitral anterior leaflet measured in all patients.CCT-OD and CCT-OS were compared among groups designed as normal and MVP or MVT <5 mm and ≥5 mm. Statistical analysis were done by Independent Samples t test using SPSS 11 for Windows.
Results
Demographic features (age, weight and height) were not different among groups. CCT-OD (466.88±67.63 vs 455.58±33.60, p=0.590) and CCT-OS (478.08±61.94 vs 464.83±43.47 p=0.513) were reduced in patients with keratoconus and also MVP. Additionally CCT-OD (471.85±63.84 vs 453.05±51.55, p=0.337) and CCT-OS (475.68±47.91 vs 471.41±65.65, p=0.337) were reduced in patients with keratoconus and MVT ≥5 mm. However our results could not reach a statistically significance.
Conclusion
We may suggest that myxomatous degeneration and prolapse of mitral valve and also keratoconus share a common degenerative process documented with reduced CCT-OD and CCT-OS in keratoconus. Degeneration of collagen, fibrillin and etc. due to various matrix metalloproteinases and cathepsins may be accounted for that shared pathophysiology.